What is a business plan?

A business plan is a document in which you write out the goals for your business, the steps you'll take to achieve those goals, and the timeframe in which you want to achieve them. You can use a business plan both as an aspirational document to motivate you to perform well in your business and as a tool to attract investors to your business venture. Your business plan may also include strategies for the marketing and promotion of your business. If you consult your business plan regularly, you'll be able to find incentives and encouragement to help you reach the goals you set.

Why is it important to learn to write a business plan?

When you write a business plan, it can serve as a blueprint for developing and growing your business. Your business plan serves as a means of accountability to yourself for the business you seek to start. The goals you set in your business plan, along with the steps and timeframe you map out for reaching those goals, will be your prime motivator for success. When you've written your business plan well, it can help you reach your goals more effectively and efficiently. You can also use your business plan as a way to attract investors. Lenders are more likely to fund your business if you're able to show them a workable plan.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn how to write a business plan?

Online courses on Coursera can help you write an effective business plan by showing you both the fundamentals and practical applications of business plan development. The suite of online courses on Coursera can show you the basics of entrepreneurship, or you can study deeper topics like social media for startups, business for entrepreneurs in creative fields, and how to seek international financing for your business. Think of online courses on Coursera as a source of knowledge that can help you achieve success as a business owner.

What are the benefits of taking an online Business Plan course?

Online Business Plan courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your existing knowledge or learn new Business Plan skills. With a wide range of Business Plan classes, you can conveniently learn at your own pace to advance your Business Plan career skills.

What Business Plan courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Business Plan, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Business Plan Courses - Learn Business Plan Online

Explore the Business Plan Course Catalog

HEC Paris
Entrepreneurship Strategy: From Ideation to Exit
Skills you'll gain: Ideation, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Creativity, B2B Sales, Sales, Business Planning, Business Strategy, Business Development, Self-Awareness, Global Marketing, Human Resources, Fundraising and Crowdsourcing, Financial Analysis, Cash Management, Recruitment, Team Building
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.2K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Tableau Learning Partner
Business Analysis Process
Skills you'll gain: Requirements Elicitation, Business Analysis, Business Metrics, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Requirements Analysis, Business Requirements, Process Analysis, Stakeholder Management, Business Process Modeling, Tableau Software, Data Visualization, Business Consulting, Solution Delivery
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
123 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
IBM
GenAI for Executives & Business Leaders: An Introduction
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Data Ethics, Artificial Intelligence, Business Transformation, Business Leadership, Business Ethics, Governance, Digital Transformation, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Business Strategies, Customer experience improvement, Customer Service
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
366 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Virginia
Digital Product Management
Skills you'll gain: Usability Testing, Agile Product Development, New Product Development, Continuous Delivery, Agile Software Development, User Story, Product Management, Agile Methodology, Product Testing, Agile Project Management, Team Performance Management, Team Management, Design Thinking, Team Building, Team Leadership, Product Improvement, Customer Analysis, Innovation, Analytics, Business Analytics
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
9.6K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
IBM
Excel Basics for Data Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Excel Formulas, Microsoft Excel, Data Cleansing, Data Analysis, Data Import/Export, Spreadsheet Software, Data Wrangling, Data Quality, Pivot Tables And Charts, Google Sheets, Data Manipulation, Data Visualization Software, Information Privacy
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
9.5K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Corporate & Commercial Law II: Business Forms, Financing & Governmental Regulation
Skills you'll gain: Bankruptcies, Securities (Finance), Commercial Laws, Loans, Banking, Financial Regulations, Regulation and Legal Compliance, Business, Financial Regulation, Organizational Structure, Governance, Mergers & Acquisitions
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
381 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Pennsylvania
Foundations of Positive Psychology
Skills you'll gain: Resilience, Goal Setting, Emotional Intelligence, Positivity, Personal Development, Optimism, Research Methodologies, Overcoming Obstacles, Research Design, Empathy, Productivity, Cognitive flexibility, Relationship Building, Self-Awareness, Qualitative Research, Research, Positive Behavior Support, Psychology, Self-Motivation, Critical Thinking
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
8.1K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
English for Effective Business Writing
Skills you'll gain: Business Writing, Business Correspondence, Business Communication, Writing, Writing and Editing, Concision, Persuasive Communication, English Language, Grammar, Language Competency, Target Audience, Vocabulary
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
442 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Coursera Project Network
Getting Started with Microsoft Excel
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Excel, Excel Formulas, Spreadsheet Software, Productivity Software, Microsoft 365
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
12K reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Google
Analyze Data to Answer Questions
Skills you'll gain: Data Validation, Spreadsheet Software, Data Analysis, Analytics, Data Manipulation, Excel Formulas, Data Compilation, Pivot Tables And Charts, SQL, Data Integration, Data Transformation, User Feedback
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
12K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of California, Davis
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Skills you'll gain: Keyword Research, Search Engine Optimization, Web Analytics and SEO, Content Creation, Social Media Strategy, Competitive Analysis, Target Audience, Client Services, Content Marketing, Peer Review, Social Media Marketing, Consumer Behaviour, Google Analytics, Presentations, Marketing, Forecasting, Digital Marketing, Expectation Management, Content Strategy, User Research
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
13K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free
Università Bocconi
Food & Beverage Management
Skills you'll gain: Food and Beverage, Hospitality Management, Restaurant Management, Product Quality (QA/QC), Global Marketing, Market Dynamics, Business Strategy, Consumer Behaviour, Value Propositions, Competitive Analysis, Innovation, Brand Management, Growth Strategies
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
4.9K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months